Camera support



Aug. 27, 1935. A. s. HOWELL 2,012,628

CAMERA SUPPORT Aug. 27, 1935.

A. S. HOWELL CAMERA SUPPORT Filed Jan. 18, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 A. S. HOWELL CAMERA SUPPORT Aug. 27, 1935.

Filed Jan. 18, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 A. S. HOWELL CAMERA SUPPORT Aug. 27, 1935.

Filed Jan. 18, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Elk? Il Patented Aug; 27, 1935 CAMERA SUPPORT Albert B. Howell, Chicago, lll., asllgnnr to The Bell Howell Company, Chicago, lll., a corporation of Illinois Application January 18, 1932,l Serial No. 587,181

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5 provide an eflicient and mobile camera support with a view toward economy in design and universal adaptability to various conditions of operation. 4.

With this object in view my invention consists in certain features of novelty ln the construct-ion, combination and arrangement of parts by which the said object and certain other objects, hereinafter appearing, are effected, all as fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings- Figure 1 is an elevational view of a device embodying my invention and having a camera assembly attached thereto.

Figure 2- is a fragmentary plan view of the Aassembly shown in Figure l.

Figure 3 is a plan section taken substantially on line 3-3 in Figure 1 and illustrating details of construction.

Figure 4 is a similar section taken substantially on line 4-'4 in Figure l and illustrating one form of base construction; and,

Figures 5 and 6 are transverse sections taken substantially on lines 5-5 and 8 8 respectively in Figure 4 further illustrating details of construction of the base.

To illustrate the invention I have shown a standard or column II, a support member or xture I2 to which a camera assembly I3 may be attached by means of a carrier I4 and a base or mobile carriage I5.

The column or standard II comprises a relatively rigid post preferably of tubular form and rigidly supported in upright position by the base I5 as will be later described.

'l'he support member or ilxture I2 may be any suitable fixture arranged for movement along the column I I or coaxial therewith and having a transverse bored bearing portion 2I or the like disposed on a horizontal axis at one side of the column II and in which the carrier I4 may be mounted. In the present embodiment the bearing portion 2| is formed on a sleeve portion 22 embracing the column I I on which suitable antifriction guide rollers 23 are mounted to engage the column II for guiding the support I2.

The carrier I4 may be any suitable device arranged for rotatable engagement in the bearing -portion 2| of the support I2 and for attachment to the camera I3 in any suitable manner and in thepresent embodiment I have shown the carrier I4 formed of a platforml24 (Figures l, 2 and 3) having a multiple dovetail connection with the camera I3, a bracket 25 suitably connected to the platform 24, and a shaft 28 rigidly secured in the bracket 25 and journaled for pivotal movement in the bearing portion 2|, whereby the camera carrier I4 is xed on this shaft at one side of the support I2.

A preferred form of the carrier I4 provides for supporting 'the camera I3 with the axis of the shaft 28 substantially in alignment with the center of gravity of the camera assembly as indicated iFigure l) so that the weight of the camera assembly will be substantially balanced on the shaft 28 to facilitate manipulation of the camera by means of a control device such as a handle 21.

The control handle 2l is connected to the shaft 28, on the other side of the support I2, through a drum shaped cover 23 having a hub portion 28 slldably keyed in a usual manner on an extended portion- 3| of the shaft 28 of reduced diameter. A threaded bushing 32 is suitably secured in a sleeve portion 33 of the cover 28 in which a. threaded end 34 of the handle 2l is engaged as indicated (Figure 3).

'I'he cover 28 embraces a circular housing portion 35 o f the support member I2 surrounding the shaft 28 at said other side of the support member I2 and having a finished peripheral surface 38 and a friction block 3l is arranged between the end 34 of the handle 2l and the surface 38 which may be securely clamped against the surface 38 by rotating movement of the handle 2l to temporarily lock the above mentioned parts and the camera I3 in various positions of adjustment and to provide an adjustable drag resisting tilting movement of the camera.

.Drag means is provided to prevent irregular adjusting movement particularly during photographing operations. This is laccomplished in the present embodiment by means of a series of annular webs 4I arranged in the housing portion 35 and suitably secured thereto by means of screws 42 or the like and a companion series of webs 43 secured to the shaft 28.

'I'he webs 4I are spaced apart by means of suitable spacers 44 arranged between the webs and a suitable cover 45 incloses the assembly.

The webs 43 are arranged on a reduced portion 48 of the shaft 28 and spaced apart by suitable spacers 41, a collar 48 seated in the hous- 'ing 35 and engaging a shoulder formed on the shaft 2t provides an end support for the webs 43 andasimilsrcollarwhichispreferablyinternally threaded to engage the shaft portion 45 locks the webs 43 in assembled relationship. End thnxstoftheshaftistakenupbythe collar 4l.

The webs 4| and 43 are interposltioned or nested and spaced so that there will be no substantial surface contact between the webs and a liquid such as an oil is filled into the housing between the webs 4| and 43 to eifect the drag connection. The drag may be varied by the use of liquids of different viscosity until a desirable action is obtained. Relatively light lubricating oils have proven satisfactory.

The number of webs 4| and 43 is proportional to the area thereof and they are preferably relatively flexible.

Suitable lugs may be formed on the webs 43 to engage in a way 5| for locating the webs and a fibrous packing ring 52 may be provided for preventing the escape of the liquid in the housing 35.

A separate locking mechanism is provided for ilxedly locking the camera I3 in an adjusted position such as for panoramic photography and to accomplish this substantially V shaped teeth 53 are formed on a hub portion 54 of the cover and to engage companion teeth similarly formed on the cover 28 when said cover 28 is in the position shown (Figure a), posmveiy locking the shaft 28 against rotation in the support member I2.

A hand wheel having threaded engagement with the end 3| of the shaft 25 secures the parts in locked relationship and when released or retracted permits disengagement of the teeth 53 by permitting axial movement of the cover 28. A screw 56' and suitable washer prevent inadvertent removal of the hand whee1 55. f

The camera I3, through the carrier I4 and support fixture I2, is supported on the column by means of a strand 55 taking over a pulley 51 suitably mounted in a cap 53 secured to the column and to provide means for balancing the weight of the camera I3 and the associated parts a suitable counterweight'59 preferably arranged within the column and guided thereby is secured to the opposite end of the strand 56.

Suitable antifriction rollers 5| may be mounted on the counterweight 58 to reduce friction.

To provide means for adjusting the elevation of the camera I3 means is provided for moving the assembly along'the column H and to ace complish this a toothed rack 62 is suitably secured Ito the column I I for engagement by a gear 53 and a crank mechanism 54 is provided for actuating the gear B3.

The crank mechanism includes a shaft 55 to which the gear 53 is rigidly secured, a crank arm 66 secured to the opposite end of the shaft 65, and a knob 51 carried by the crank arm 65. The shaft 55 is rotatably mounted in a bearing portion 5|! formed on the support I2 and means is provided for locking the camera and associated parts in operative positions.

To accomplish this a clutch member 1| is arranged on the shaft 55 and to engage a companion clutch member 12 associated 'with the bearing portion 55. A spring 13 positioned in the clutch member 1| and engaging a shoulder 14 formed on the shaft 65 normally urges the clutch. members together to prevent operation of the shaft through a connection formed by ing a lug 11 formed on the clutch member 1|. and a release pin 13 mounted in the crank l5 and knob 61 to engage the lever 15 and provided with a cap 15 facilitating operation.

The clutch member 1I is released by grasping 'the knob 51 and pressing the cap 15 against the knob and is engaged by the spring 13 when the cap 18 is released.

A guide roller 5| suitably secured to the support I2 as indicated (Figure l) and engaging the rack 62 maintains alinement of the camera. assembly with respect to the column H.

The base or mobile carriage I5 includes a body I I I (Figures l, 4, 5 and 6) supported on remotely located roller assemblies H2 and H3, a removable platform plate H4, and rigid supports or screws H5.

The body I H may be of any suitable material and formed substantially as shown.

The roller assemblies H2 each include one or more wheels H6 mounted for free rotation on a suitable shaft H1 which is suitably mounted in the base H'| as indicated (Figure 5). The wheels I l5 are preferably tired and of narrow tread and vprovided in series or numbers such as four as shown to facilitate the use of soft tires without .permitting extreme yielding or swaying of the apparatus when in motion.

The roller assembly H3 is similar to the assemblies H2 except that treads H8 of wheels I 9 thereof are flat surfaced to increase the bearing surface of the assembly. The wheels H9 are rotatably mounted on a shaft |2| which is sultably secured by means of bearing caps |22 or the like in a head |23 which is rotatably mounted to facilitate guiding the apparatus.

The head I 23 is arranged in an opening formed in the base and secured thereto by means of a clamp ring |24 engaging an annular flange portion |25 thereof. Suitable bearing balls may be provided as shown (Figure 6) to reduce friction.

A hood portion |26 of the head |23 covers or conceals the wheels H9 and a handle |21 may be provided having a yoke connection with the head |23 and attached thereto by means of shoulder screws |28.

The platform plate H4 may be a sheet metal plate of suitable size attached to the base I5 by means of screws |29 or the like and of suitable strength to support an operator during manipulation of the camera particularly in the higher positions.

'I'he rigid supports |5 may be any suitable device whereby the apparatus may be supported independent of the wheels while the camera is in operation such as a jack screw I3| having a pressure foot |32 and hand wheel |33 suitably secured thereto and having threaded engagement with the base I5 or the like.

It is an object of this invention to support the camera I3 so that it may be rotated about an axis extending through or adjacent its center of gravity to prevent unnecessary changes in focal length during operation and to accomplish this the vertical column is mounted on the base I5 for bodily rotation about a vertical axis outside or remote from the axis of the column and preferably to an extent equal or 'corresponding to the extent of the oil'set of the column from the camera, the camera being disposed substantially at the aforesaid vertical axis of rotation. thus accomplishing the aforesaid purpose and in addition substantially centering the weight of the camera at this axis. 'I'he shaft 26 is horizontally disposed and is preferably arranged in parallelism with the common axial plane of the aforesaid vertical axis of rotation and the column Il, so that the tilting movement of the camera is effected on a horizontal axis extending correspondingly or, as shown, in parallelism with the aforesaid common axial plane, the tilting movement of the camera being thus conveniently arranged with reference to the horizontal movement thereof, and the view of the operator along the focal axis of the lcamera being unobstructed.

In the present embodiment the column il is rigidly secured to a rotatable part MI of a removable connecting or carrier mechanism |42 which includes a stationary part I having an annular flange I arranged for support on a similar ange |45 formed on the base Il.

'I'he carrier mechanism |42 is secured to the base I by suitable plates I secured to the base l5 by means of screws |41 and extending over the danse |44.

'Ihe rotatable part Ill is supported through an annular flange ISI mounted between bearing balls which are slightly preloaded by means of a slightly iiexible annular cover plate II! as indicated (Figure 5).

A drag mechanism |53 similar to that associated with the shaft 26 is provided to control movement or changes of position of the column The drag mechanism |53 includes a carrier I having a suitable ange lil facilitating operative connection of the mechanism to the stationary part |43 and forming a well lll in which a viscous liquid may be contained, a series of stationary webs |51 suitably separated by spacersJIl mounted in the well IBI and rigidly secured by means of screws III, and a companion series of webs ICI mounted on and rigidly secured as indicated (Figure 5) to a pivot post |62 having bearings inthe carrier lilandthestationarypart |43 and rigidly secured tothe rotatable part Ill for rotation therewith.

Thewebs Ill and |51 aresimilartothewebs Il and above described and similarly proportioned and spaced and are or may be submerged in an oil or other liquid having suitable viscosity.

Apackingring Iand closurecap illmaybe provided to prevent the escape of the liquid Obviously the apparatus may be moved about on the wheels Iii and Il! from one position to another and when in position the jack screws IIS may be turned down to rigidly support the apparatus.

The camera Il is moved to any desired elevation along the column il by means of the crank Il as above described and further manipulation of the camera is effected by means of the manipulating handle 21 as above described.

wish tobelimitedtotheprecisedetailsofconstruction as changes may readily be made without departing from the spirit of my invention. but having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by letters Patent the following:

1. In a photographic camera support the combination with a base, of a vertical column mounted thereon for angular movement on a vertical axis spaced from that of said column, a support mounted on said column for adjustment therealong and angularly fixed therewith. and a camera carrier mounted on said support for pivotal movement on a horizontal axis extending correspondingly with the common axial plane of said column and said vertical axis and adapted to carry a camera on the side of said column on which said vertical axis is disposed.

2. In a photographic camera support the combination with a wheeled base, of a vertical column mounted thereon for angular movement on a vertical axis spaced from that of said column, a support mounted on said column for adjustment therealong and angularly fixed therewith. a camera carrier mounted on said support for pivotal movement on a horizontal axis and adapted to carry a camera on the side of said column on which said vertical axis is disposed, an operators platform on said base, and an extension handle nxed with said camera carrier for adjustment of the camera by an operator on said platform.

3. In a photographic camera support the combination with a wheeled base. of a vertical column mounted thereon for angular movement on a vertical axis spaced from that of said column, a support mounted on said column for adjustment therealong and angularly fixed there-V with, a camera carrier mounted on said support for pivotal movement on a horizontal axis extending correspondingly with the common axial plane of said column' and said vertical axis and adaptedtocarryacameraonthesideofsaid columnonwhichsaidverticalaxisisdisposed, anoperatorsplatformonsaidbase,andanex tension handle fixed with said camera carrier for adjustment of the camera by an operator on said platform.

4. In a photographic camera support the combination with a column, of a support mounted on the column for adjustment therealong. a shaft journaled for pivotal movement in a bore through saidsupportanddisposedatonesideofsaid column on an axis transverse thereto, a camera carriernxedonsaidshaftononesideofsaid support, liquid friction drag means operative between said support and camera carrier and including a circular housing on said support, a radial extension handle structure for angularly adjusting said camera carrier, and releasable friction means associated with said handle structure and controlled therefrom and adapted to engage said housing for securing said camera carrier in adjusted position.

ALBERT S. H OWELL. 

